Borage, Borago officinalis, Comfrey Family
Habitat and Cultivation
Borage is an annual that flowers throughout the summer. It prefers well drained soil in sun or partial shade and does not like to be transplanted. Instead, propagate by seed. It self-seeds after flowering. It is at risk for being affected by powdery mildews.
Folklore and Mythology
Masculine, Jupiter, Air, Leo
The common name Borage is taken from the Celtic borracha, meaning ‘courage’. Celtic warriors would drink a tea from the leaves before battle for strength. The flower was often used as a sigil embroidered on the robes of Medieval knights for protection. Fresh blossoms were carried for courage or placed in a buttonhole for protection. A tea was used for increasing psychic abilities.
Medicinal Properties and Traditional Uses
Borage is a demulcent emollient used as an antidepressant and adrenal gland restorative. It contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids and choline. It is useful in treating anxiety and mental fatigue. It can also be used to reduce inflammation of the stomach.
Calendula, Calendula officinalis
Habitat and Cultivation
A fast growing annual, calendula flowers in summer and autumn. It prefers full sun or partial shade in well-draining soil. Sow in spring or autumn.
Folklore and Mythology
Masculine, Sun, Fire
Used for protection, psychic powers, and prophetic dreams. The petals were strewn across doorways to stop evil from entering, and when placed under the bed they were thought to make dreams come true. It was said that if a girl touches the petals with her bare feet she would be able to understand the languages of the birds.
Medicinal Properties and Traditional Uses
Calendula is an anti-inflammatory immune stimulant that promotes healing of the skin and body. It is anti-fungal and antibacterial and can also be used as a menstrual regulator. It contains volatile oil, flavonoids including vitamin A, and triterpene.
German Chamomile, Matricaria chamomilla
Habitat and Cultivation
German chamomile is an annual that prefers well drained soil in full sun. Propagate by seed and cut back regularly.
Folklore and Mythology
Masculine, Sun, Water
In Medieval times, chamomile was strewn across floors in order for it to release a sweet scent when stepped on. It was considered a cure-all, primarily known to be warming, soothing, and a digestive remedy. It was used for purification and protection, to attract love, or sprinkled around the home to remove curses. Those wishing to attract money would wash their hands in a chamomile infusion.
Medicinal Properties and Traditional Uses
Chamomile is a soothing anti-inflammatory. It is antimicrobial, a mild pain reliever and mild sedative. It contains sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids, chamazulene, and tannins. It was traditionally used for restlessness, insomnia, and to calm hyperactive children, indigestion, muscle spasms, and at the early signs of a fever.
Comfrey, Symphytum officinale
Habitat and Cultivation
Comfrey is a perennial that flowers in late spring through summer. It is considered somewhat invasive. It prefers moist soil in sun or partial shade. Propagate by division of roots in spring. Cut back after flowering. Comfrey can also be used to make a fertile tea to water plants with.
Folklore and Mythology
Feminine, Saturn, Water, Capricorn
When worn or carried, comfrey was thought to offer protection and safety during travel. The root was often used in money spells.
Medicinal Properties and Traditional Uses
Comfrey, also known as knitbone, is primarily used as a bone healer, haemostatic, and general wound healer. It contains allantoin, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, mucilage, phenolic acid, and steroidal saponins. It was traditionally used as a bone and wound healer and to stop bleeding.
Meadowsweet, Filipendula ulmaria
Habitat and Cultivation
Meadowsweet is in the Rosaceae family. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial. It prefers fertile, moist and either well or poorly drained soil and full or partial sun. Propagate in spring by seed in containers or by division. Pruning is done by cutting back after flowering. It is at risk to be affected by powdery mildews.
Folklore and Mythology
Masculine, Jupiter, Air, Gemini
Meadowsweet is one of the three most sacred herbs in Druidic tradition. It represents the Flower Bride, the maiden aspect of the triple goddess. Its sweet aroma was said to be the queen of the meadow luring unsuspecting passer-by’s into an enteral sleep. However, meadowsweet actually gets its name not from meadows, but from mead. It was an early ingredient in mead-making practices. It was sometimes used inside the soles of shoes to release a sweet odour when stepped on. Fresh meadowsweet would be placed on altars for love spells or strewn about the home to promote peace and tranquillity.
Medicinal Properties and Traditional Uses
Meadowsweet contains salicylic acid, the chemical responsible for aspirin’s pain-relieving qualities. It is an anti-inflammatory astringent antiseptic, pain reliever, diuretic, diaphoretic, and antacid. It contains flavonoids and phenolic glycosides. It was traditionally used as a pain reliever and to treat ulcers, gastric reflux, and liver disorders.
Mugwort, Artemesia vulgaris
Habitat and Cultivation
Mugwort is a member of the Asteraceae family and can be an annual, perennial or evergreen shrub. It flowers in late summer. It prefers well-drained, fertile soil in full sun or partial shade. Propagate by division in spring or autumn. Remove flowers to prevent it from self-seeding and becoming invasive.
Folklore and Mythology
Feminine, Venus, Earth
Mugwort gets its Latin name from the Greek Goddess Artemis, the protector of women and reliever of disease. The plant was traditionally used in divination and spells for spirit travel, or astral projection. It was also used to ward off evil and protect against illness. It was considered most potent if gathered on the summer solstice or on a full moon. It was thought to be especially protective against witches and thunder. When placed under a pillow, it was said to induce prophetic dreams. A wash made of mugwort was used to cleanse crystal balls and altars. Ancient tradition also dictates that those who carry it cannot be harmed by poison, beasts, or sunstroke.
Medicinal Properties and Traditional Uses
Mugwort is a nervous system relaxant, diuretic, diaphoretic, bitter tonic, and menstrual regulator. It contains vulgarin, flavonoids, and coumarin. It was traditionally used for menstrual regulation, to treat tremors, to stimulate appetite, and to treat intestinal worms.
Mullein, Verbascum thapsis
Habitat and Cultivation
Mullein is a biennial that forms a rosette of leaves in its first year and flowers in its second. It prefers poor alkaline and well-drained soil. At risk for powdery mildews and caterpillars.
Folklore and Mythology
Feminine, Saturn, Fire
When worn, mullein gives the wearer courage. When placed under the pillow it was thought to protect against nightmares. Those who practiced magic often used mullein stalks as the wicks for their candles in spells. It was also used as a substitute for graveyard dust in certain spells.
Medicinal Properties and Traditional Uses
Mullein is a soothing relaxant and demulcent that is particularly useful in respiratory issues. It contains rutin, hesperidin, saponins, and volatile oil. It was traditionally used for treating coughs, hay fever, bronchitis, pleurisy, and asthma.
Nettle, Urtica dioica
Habitat and Cultivation
Nettles are hardy perennials that flower from May to September. They propagate readily from seed and are therefore often considered a problem plant in gardens. To control, prevent the plant from seeding by pruning early.
Folklore and Mythology
Masculine, Mars, Fire
Traditionally used for protection or to remove a curse, nettle was often used to stuff poppets. It was sprinkled around the home to banish evil, or thrown on a fire to avert danger. It would also be carried to ward away ghosts or worn as an amulet to banish fear and used in purification bathing rituals.
Medicinal Properties and Traditional Uses
Nettles are highly nutritious and mineral rich, making them an excellent blood tonic and antiseptic haemostatic. They contain chlorophyll, Vitamin C, serotonin, histamine, acetylcholine, iron, calcium, and silica. They were traditionally used for treating iron deficiency and anaemia, to cleanse the blood, to treat malaria, to stimulate the kidneys, for allergies, and to treat gout and rheumatism.
Ribwort Plantain, Plantago lanceolata
Habitat and Cultivation
Ribwort plantain is a common weed found in disturbed soil. It flowers between April and October.
Folklore and Mythology
Feminine, Venus, Earth
Plantain would be hung from doorways to protect against evil spirits and worn inside the shoes to prevent weariness. It offers healing, protection and strength.
Medicinal Properties and Traditional Uses
Plantain is an astringent, antibacterial, and anti-infective wound healer, lymphatic cleanser, and antihistamine. It contains flavonoids, tannins, and iridoids. It was traditionally used for blood disorders, to clean fresh wounds or burns, draw out foreign bodies and infections, snake bites and spider bites, eczema, and acne.
St. John’s Wort, Hypericum perforatum
Habitat and Cultivation
St. John’s Wort is a perennial that flowers in summer. It prefers moist but well-drained soil. Propagate by seed, division, or softwood cuttings.
Folklore and Mythology
Masculine, Sun, Fire, Leo
St. John’s Wort has been thought to protect against the devil and evils spirits since Ancient Greece. The Celts used it as incense to be passed through the fire during Summer Solstice celebrations. They would then wear the plant in battle for protection.
It is possible that its mood-stablising effects caused people to believe that evil spirits were being banished from their bodies. St. John’s Wort is special to Midsummer and was traditionally burnt over the bonfire to protect against evil. It would also be cut and placed above doorways to protect the home. When gathered at Midsummer or on a Friday it was thought to protect against mental illness and to cure melancholy.
Medicinal Properties and Traditional Uses
St. John’s Wort is an anti-inflammatory, antiviral, astringent blood tonic, relaxing nervine, anti-depressant, sedative, and mild pain reliever. It contains hypericin, flavonoids, and essential oil. It was traditionally used to treat depression and anxiety, pain, menstrual cramps, and to clean and relieve pain of flesh injuries.
Valerian, Valeriana officinalis
Habitat and Cultivation
Valerian is a herbaceous perennial that flowers in the summer. It prefers moist soil in full sun or partial shade. Propagate by seed or softwood cuttings in spring, or division in spring or autumn.
Folklore and Mythology
Feminine, Venus, Water
Valerian was known in the Medieval period as a ‘heal-all’ and was a staple in medieval monastic apothecaries. The meaning of the epithet ‘officinalis’ actually comes from the word officina, or office, where the herbal supplies would have been stored. It was used as a relaxing sedative and to aid problems with sleep. Animals are also affected by Valerian, and in some versions of the tale of the Pied Piper, it was actually valerian in his pockets that lured the rats away. It was traditionally used in protective sachets hung around the home or for use in love spells and was placed under the pillow to aid restful sleep. This herb was also used as a substitution for ‘graveyard dust’ in spells.
Medicinal Properties and Traditional Uses
Valerian is a sedative, mild analgesic, nervous system relaxant, and can lower blood pressure. It contains alkaloids, essential oil, and valepotriates. It was traditionally used to treat restlessness, insomnia, high blood pressure, heart palpitations, migraines, muscle pain and spasms, and anxiety.
Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, Asteraceae family
Habitat and Cultivation
Yarrow is a member of the Asteraceae family and is a perennial that flowers in summer. An ideal companion plant, yarrow can help heal sick plants when planted near them as it helps to balance the PH of the soil and remove damaging minerals. It prefers sunny locations and is propagated by seed or division in spring. Can suffer from powdery mildews and aphids.
Folklore and Mythology
Feminine, Venus, Water
The Latin name Achillea comes from the Greek God Achilles, who was said to use yarrow to heal his wounds after battle. Yarrow was often hung over the beds of children to protect them and keep them healthy, as well as preventing them from being taken and replaced with a ‘changling’. It was used ceremoniously for divination, allowing for second sight and for communing with spirits. It would also be strewn across doorways to protect the home from witches. Yarrow was thought to grant courage and protection when worn or held and was often used in love spells. It was also used to remove evil or negativity from people and places.
Medicinal Properties and Traditional Uses
Yarrow is an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, haemostatic, diuretic and diaphoretic. It contains flavonoids, volatile oil, sesquiterpene lactones, and alkaloids. It is used to treat colds and flus and can reduce a fever by inducing sweating. It is also a haemostatic, meaning it can be used to stop bleeding. It is antibiotic and anti-infective so is ideal as a dressing to stop bleeding in a fresh wound. It can also be taken as a tea to lighten menstruation.
References Used:
fromrootstopetals.com 